Abstract: An automatic golf ball ranging system is provided for retrofitting existing passive golf ranges to include an electronic system for notifying golfers as to the distance between the impact of their golf ball on the range and the golfer's target. The automated golf ranging system includes a pod which is preferably self contained to include an independent power supply, one or more microphones for receiving the sound of a golf ball impacting the golf range, a processor for processing the sound made by the golf ball, and visual or audio indicators for providing feedback to the golfer. The processor performs modification, filtration and analysis of the amplitude of the ball impacting the golf range to estimate the distance between golf ball impact and target. In preferred embodiments, the processor filters out ambient background noise and the processor automatically adjusts itself to changing ambient sound levels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the operation of a plurality of security gate operating mechanisms, which may comprise providing a central computer system, including an associated memory system; providing a network connection between the central computer system and each of the plurality of security gate operating mechanisms; storing in the associated memory system software used in operating at least some of the respective security gate operating mechanisms; storing in the associated memory system operating system parameters for each of the respective security gate operating mechanisms; providing over the network the software and operating parameters to respective ones of the security gate operating mechanisms.

Abstract: The temperature of an operator circuit is measured. A relationship between the temperature of the operator circuit and characteristics of the operator circuit is determined. The relationship is applied to the measured temperature of the operator circuit to create an adjustment action. The detection threshold is adjusted by the adjustment action.

Abstract: A wireless host access control unit (11) and one or more corresponding wireless remote user interfaces (14) are configured and arranged to participate in a test mode of operation. Pursuant to the test mode of operation, these two system components participate in one or more test transmissions that exercise a wireless transmission link to thereby assess the viability of that link. A corresponding user-discernable test indicator is then provided at the wireless remote user interface. So configured, an installer can test any number of candidate locations for a wireless remote user interface prior to permanently installing that interface, thereby more likely ensuring that the latter will be able to successfully interface with the wireless host access control unit following installation.

Abstract: A manual override device is disclosed for use with an automatic transponder system. This system has the capability of detecting errors in the operation of the system, and then for allowing for a manual override to initiate operation of a security gate when such is necessary.

Abstract: An access control system and one or more remote user interfaces that communicate with one another via nine bit messages are able to wirelessly communicate with one another via conversion of such nine bit messages into multiple corresponding eight bit message. In a preferred approach, information from the original nine bit message that indicates a message type is segregated to one such eight bit message.